Socket Mobile Unveils New Handheld Computer for Business Mobility
Market
Company to Leverage Existing Reseller Channels to Target Small to
Medium Deployments
NEWARK, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) March 8, 2007 --
Socket Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCKT), dba Socket Mobile, Inc., an
innovative provider of mobile productivity products, today unveiled its
new handheld mobile computer specifically designed to make essential
business mobile productivity solutions possible and affordable. The
company's extensive line of mobile data collection and networking
connectivity peripherals combined with the new handheld make Socket
a one-stop supplier of mobile computing hardware systems.
The new Socket
SoMo™ 650 is built to address the market
that exists between consumer-oriented PDAs and heavy duty industrial
devices. The sleek, durable device uses a touch screen and is based on
the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system to ensure the highest level of
mobile application compatibility and gives workers a familiar computing
environment. The SoMo 650 handheld computer's flexible design enables
ease of customization and integration with Socket and third party
peripherals and information systems –
extending the lifecycle of the product and reducing total cost of
ownership. The company will launch a new extended, multi-year service
warranty on the device as well as on many of its higher-end peripheral
products.
“Mobile computing systems available today do
not meet the mobility needs of small- to medium-sized companies or many
business units within larger enterprises,”
said Kevin Mills, president and chief executive officer of Socket
Mobile. “Currently companies need to choose
between devices that are often too costly and over featured or
inexpensive and under featured, which results in mobility solutions
being overly difficult to justify and deploy. The SoMo 650 is designed
to change all of that, since it's designed and developed for the
currently underserved business mobility market.”
Socket Mobile plans to leverage more than 100 value added reseller
partners to target current and prospective customers seeking cost
effective mobile computing solutions to deliver applications for
inventory control, sales force automation, patient tracking, asset
management and merchandising. The company's primary focus will be on the
healthcare, automotive, life sciences and retail markets in which
workers have a need for efficient data collection, real-time information
management and applications in the field.
“The business mobility market represents
approximately 10.9 million organizations and 69 million mobile workers.
However, with penetration of mobility solutions at only 25 percent, most
organizations still rely on manual, paper-based systems that contribute
to greater error frequency and highly inefficient processes," said David
Krebs, director of the Mobile & Wireless Practice, Venture Development
Corporation.
“With the Windows Mobile operating system,
Socket Mobile is helping its customers attain an easily deployable,
manageable solution that increases mobile productivity,”
said Chris Hill, group product manager at Microsoft Corp. "Windows
Mobile brings a familiar experience to the small screen, helping mobile
professionals stay connected to important data wherever they are."
Features and Pricing
The SoMo 650 includes the following features and applications:
Durable form factor designed specifically to withstand multiple drops
from one meter onto vinyl-covered concrete
True business class 802.11b/g Wi-Fi technology provides fast roaming for
superior in-building / campus environments and VoIP applications
Bluetooth™ 2.0 radio with enhanced data rate;
one of the most complete libraries of Bluetooth profiles for maximum
support of third party peripherals
Reinforced CompactFlash and SDIO slots that enable expandability and
provide better protection for peripheral devices
More stable platform and a three to five year lifecycle to meet business
needs and lower total cost of ownership
128MB SDRAM and 256MB Flash memory to enable users to work with multiple
applications
Intel processor operating at 624MHz to ensure better application
responsiveness
High-capacity, rechargeable lithium-ion battery to power the most
demanding applications; an optional extended life battery is also
available
Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system
The SoMo 650 is the first in a family of handheld computing products
Socket will rollout in 2007 and is available through Socket distribution
channels, resellers and vertical industry partners in the U.S. as well
as selected countries in Asia Pacific and Europe with an MSRP of $648.
Socket is on track to ship the SoMo 650 during the second quarter,
starting with limited production in April and mass production in May.
The handheld computer will be available in various packaged
configurations that may include a wall charger, docking cradle and
carrying case.
For more product information visit: http://www.socketmobile.com/products/handheld-computer/somo-650/.
About Socket Mobile
Socket Mobile makes mobility computing and productivity work. The
company is a one-stop supplier of mobile computing hardware systems by
offering a handheld mobile computer and one of the most complete
portfolios of essential mobile data collection and networking
connectivity peripherals that will enable mobile automation and
productivity increases for small to medium deployments. The company also
offers OEM partner solutions and software development programs. Socket
is headquartered in Newark, Calif. and can be reached at 510-933-3000 or www.socketmobile.com.
Socket and SoMo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Socket
Communications, Inc., dba Socket Mobile, Inc. All other trademarks and
trade names contained herein may be those of their respective owners.
© 2007, Socket Communications, Inc., dba
Socket Mobile, Inc. All rights reserved.
For editors needing images visit: socketmobile.com/images/default.asp?Type=Handheld.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such
forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements
indicating a new product introduction including details on the timing
and distribution of the product and statements predicting trends, sales
and market opportunities in the markets in which we sell our products.
Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results
could differ materially from the results anticipated in such forward
looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, but
not limited to, the risk that the product introduction may be delayed or
not happen as predicted, if ever, and the risk that market acceptance
and sales opportunities may not happen as anticipated once the product
has been introduced into the market, the risk that our integrator
program and current distribution channels may not choose to distribute
the product or may not be successful in doing so, the risk that
acceptance of our product in vertical application markets may not happen
as anticipated and that anecdotal evidence of success in those markets
may not be indicative of a trend, the risk of delays in our ability to
design, manufacture, market and sell the new product due to
technological, market, or financial factors, including the availability
of necessary working capital, and other risks described in our most
recent Form 10-K and 10-Q reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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See the original story at: http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/mobile/socket/prweb510014.htm
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